Hindsight is always 20/20, but there were plenty of signs going into the Jets game in London that yet another strange plot twist was coming in the Aaron Rodgers story. The quotes coming out of New York’s loss to Denver the week before indicated that Rodgers and coach Robert Saleh weren’t exactly on the same page, so much of the writing was on the proverbial wall.
But no one expected this. Not this soon. Saleh was summarily fired after yet another disastrous Jets loss against the Vikings, with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stepping up to take the reins.
No one seemed more shocked by the firing than Robert Saleh
Coaches usually have a good sense of when they’re going to be fired, but Robert Saleh is a definite exception to that rule of thumb. He told Jay Glazer of Fox Sports that he was blindsided when told he was being fired, for he thought that he’d been given more time to turn around the 2-3 Jets and compete for a playoff berth.
But this is the Jets we’re talking about, so as usual there are several things about this move that make no sense at all. We’re not even a third of the way through the season, and 2-3 teams that are playing even so-so football are more than in the running in the race for a playoff berth.
Moreover, Saleh is a defensive-minded coach who made his bones with the 49ers, and the Jets defense was playing extremely well. They gave up just 60 passing yards against Denver, and anyone who watched the New York offense stumble and bumble against the Vikings in London knows that the defense was the only reason it was a one-score game where the Jets had a chance to win at the end.
This story comes with some special Jets twists
One of the most bizarre twists in this story was reported by Pro Football Talk and other outlets that Rodgers was walked out of the Jets facility by the team’s director security director. That’s rare in the NFL world, and no one in New York save for owner Woody Johnson seems to know why it happened.
The other strange twist in this story is that it comes on the verge of a possible big trade for wide receiver Davante Adams, who is expected to be dealt by the Las Vegas Raiders some time in the coming days or weeks.
The rumors about Adams going to the Jets have been picking up steam in the last few days, as Adams is yet another favorite of Aaron Rodgers going back to their record-setting Green Bay days. No one seems to know what this firing means to that possible trade, either, although it is possible to take some fairly good educated guesses.
Did Aaron Rodgers go to owner Woody Johnson behind Saleh’s back and get him fired?
This is the 600-lb. gorilla question in the corner of the room, of course. Rodgers was clearly peeved after the Denver game when Saleh made his cadence an issue, given that it’s something the quarterback has done for years to draw defenses offside to get a free play.
But the play backfired during one of the quarterback’s attempts to use the tactic. Instead it was the Jets who committed a procedure penalty, and Rodgers response to Saleh’s comments was that the coach should “hold them accountable.”
This is the Jets, though, so accountability can be hard to find. Rodgers did take some responsibility for his three picks against Minnesota in the 23-17 loss. But he also referred to Saleh as “a good friend,” making it clear that he considers himself a coaching partner who’s responsible for the offense, and the now-ex Jets coach should stick to issues on “his” side of the ball.
It will likely be some time before we hear from Rodgers himself on all this. He was scheduled to make his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show today, but that appearance has already been moved to tomorrow, and at this point it would be shocking if it took place at all this week.
If the Jets do trade for Adams soon, Rogers will doubtless show up grinning about the reunion. But anyone who doesn’t think there are more strange twists coming in this story hasn’t been following the Jets or Rodgers over the course of their tumultuous histories.